Road-grading machine



C. J. SCRANTON, JR

ROAD GRADING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1923 J f 0 m m C M J. C

' atented l. l3,

CHARLES J. SCRANTON, JR, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AVERY COMPANY, OF PEORIA, .ILLDT OIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ROAD-GRADING MACHINE- Applieation filed January 31, 1923. Serial No. 616,035.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. SoRAN- TON, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria. in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Road-Grading Machines, of which the following is a specification.

T he present invention relates to improvements in road grading machines, and has for its object to provide a machine which will be of relatively simple and durable construction by means of which a road surface may be readily given the desired cross sectional contour.- More particularly the present improvements relate to a means for digging or breaking up an old road surface in advance of a scraping mechanism by which the desired smooth surface may be restored.

The invention will be particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a road grading machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan.

Fig. 3 is a detached view of the supporting or adjusting devices for the cutter head.

Fig. l is a detail view of the means for supporting the forward end of the cutting devices.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the guide for the cutter head supporting means.

Fig. 6 is a detail section of a portion of the guide of Figure 5.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate details of the cutter head and means for mounting the teeth thereon and connecting the head to the draft yckes.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the machine comprises a suitable framework which is supported upon traction wheels 1, 2, arranged at opposite sides of the frame, and has a front steering wheel The steering wheel is suitably supported at the forward end of a central elongated longitudinally extending frame section comand suitably connected to the longitudinally extending frame members 4. A draft bar 11 cutends transversely of the machine immediately below the bars 5, and 7, and is securely attached to the main frame by suitable braces and bolts. A scraper consisting of a plurality of sections arranged in a longitudinal series is suspended from the main frame and connected to the draft bar 11. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, this scraper comprises three similar sections 18, 19 and 20, each of which is connected to the draft bar 11 by yokes 21, 22, 23. The adjacent ends of the scraper sections overlap slight-1y so that there is provided a continuous scraping surface which it will be noted extends from points in rear of the vertical planes of the left hand traction wheel 2 to points in advance of the right hand traction wheel. The several scraper sections are so connected that they may be adjusted vertically relative to each other to give the scraping edge a curved contour when desired.

Each scraper section is suspended from the main frame by means controlled by suitable levers on the frame so that the sections can be independently adjusted vertically as may be desired.

On the elongated frame section 4 is mounted a suitable motor and suitable gearing is interposed between said motor and the traction wheels to enable said wheels to be positively driven from the motor, such means including devices whereby either wheel can be driven independently of the other to enable the machine, as a whole, to be readily turned when desired. i

It is not thought to. be necessary to describe more in detail the construction of the frame and the scraper elements thereof as those shown are substantially the same as illustrated and described in a prior application, Serial No. 483,4c78,filed July 19,1921.

The subject matter of the present invention is, as hereinbeforc pointed out, more particularly a ground breaking attachment for the machine of the aforesaid earlier application.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, it will be seen that the improvements comprise the cutter bar head 30, shown as formed of angle iron and positioned with its apex directed upward and the outer surfaces 1nclined forward and rearward therefrom.

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To the forward inclined face of said outter head are suit-ably secured a series of teeth or cutters 31, which, as illustrated, are pointed or sharpened at both ends and extend above and below the head 30.

.The head is connected to the rear ends of diverging yoke bars 32, the forward ends of which extend between and are pivotally connected to hangers 33 that are secured to and depend from the longitudinalv frame bars 4. Suitable additional braces 35 are provided for holding the forward ends of the cutter carrying yoke bars in position.

The teeth 31 may be secured to the cutter head 30 by any suitable means. As shown, they are fastened by clips 36 that extend about the teeth and through suitable apertures formed in 'seat 'blocks 37 positioned on the forward face of the cutter head, nuts 38 being provided at the ends of the clips for retaining the in the desired relation.

The yoke bars 32 extend over the forward face of the cutter head 30 and are connected by bolts 40 with ears extending from a plate 41 which is secured by bolts 42 to theforwar'd inclined member of the cutter head '30. Asishown, one of the cutter teeth 31 is positioned on the plate 41 between the yoke bars 32. I

Secured to the rear face of the cutter head 30 adjacent each yoke bar 32 is an several parts angle )late 43 the rearwardly directed por-' tion 0 which extends between and is bolted to connecting members 45, which are bolted at 46 to the yoke bar. The connecting members 45 may be adjusted relative to the securing bolts 46, as may be necessary to maintain a rigid connection between the cutter head 30 and the draft bars 32 and cause said bars to conform closely to the inclination of the forward face of the cutter head.

Preferably, the yoke bars 32 are con nected by suitable transversebars 50, 51, to prevent lateral separation thereof, and said bars and the cutter head are adapted to swing bodily vertically about the pivot of their connection with the depending hangers 33. Such vertical .movement is guided by .a stirrup-like hanger 52, the members of which are secured at their upper ends to projections on the forward face of a member of the main frame.

The stirrup guide 52 in connection with the yoke 'bars 32 and their connecting member 51, provide means by which any lateral motion of the cutter head is prevented, and while the head and teeth thereon may be adjusted vertically, it will be seen that they are supported to exert a maximum digging action on the road surface as the machine is advanced without danger of being deflected from the desired path. If desired, a sleeveor roller may be placed about the connecting rod 31 and bear upon the forward edges of the stirrup guide 52 to relieve the friction produced by vertical movement of the cutter head relative to the main frame.

As shown, the cutter head is yieldingly supported from the main frame and means are .provided whereby it may be bodily adjusted vertically to inoperative position when desired. As shown, a rock shaft 60 suitably. mounted on the main frame is provided with crank arms 61 which loosely surround rods 62, the lower ends ofwhich are connected to the cutter bar heads 30. The rods 62 are .of such length that the extend some distance above the rock'sha 60 and between suitable relatively stationary abutments 63, 64, on said rods, and the crank arms 61 are arranged coiled sprin s 65, which act to normally yieldingly ho d the cutter head in its lowermost position, but permit it to move vertically, in it meets with excessive amount of resistance as the machine moves forward.

A crank arm 67 on the rock shaft (SO-is connected by a suitable rod 68 with a lever 69 on the main frame within reach of the operator occupying a seat 70 pro-vided for him at the rear end of the machine. By pro erly manipulating the lever 69 the rock sha 60 may be actuated to positively lift the cutter head and cutters thereon fro-m operative position and by suitably locking means the parts may be retained in this elevated position if desired. The member 51 cooperates with the guide. 52 so that longitudinal draft is exerted on the draw bar by said means as well as by the pivotal connection between the front end of such bar and the depending frame member.

The manner of operating and the advantages of the improvements will, it is believed, be fully understood from the drawings in connection with the foregoing description. 1

It will be understood, of course, that the drawings are intended to be merely illustrative of the invention, and that, unless the machine the scraper may be elevated and retained in position above and out of contact with the road surface while the cutter head is operating on the road surface. After. the roadway has been broken up as desired, the cutter head may be elevated and thereafter the loosened surface shaped as desired by lowering the scraper and adjusting the several sections thereof to present the desired contour to the road.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a self propelled road grading machine, the combination of an elongated main frame, a pair of relatively widely separated traction wheels supported at opposite sides of the main frame, a scraper suspended from the main frame and extending transversely beyond the vertical planes of both traction wheels and longitudinally of the frame from a point in advance of one traction wheel to a point in rear of the other wheel, an operators seat at the rear end of the machine, a motor on the frame, gearing, adapted to be controlled from the operators scat, connecting the motor and traction wheels, surface breaking teeth, arranged in advance of the scraper and supported at the forward end fron the main frame by a horizontal pivot, yielding means supporting the surface breaker teeth adjacent the scraper, and means controllable from the operators seat for rocking the surface breaker teeth about said horizontal pivot.

2. In a self propelled road grading machine, the combination of a main frame, a pair of traction wheels at opposite sides of the frame, a scraper suspended from the frame and extending diagonally thereof, a surface breaker beneath the frame in advance of the scraper and comprising a suitable head and a series of forwardly inc-lined cutters secured thereto, a bifurcated draw bar having its closed end connected with the main frame by a horizontal pivot and its arms connected to the head of the surface -breaker, yielding connections between the surface breaker head and the main frame adjacent the scraper, a motor on the frame, an operators seat on the frame in rear of the motor, gearing, controllable from the operators seat, connecting the motor and traction wheels, and means controllable from the operators seat for rocking the surface breaker about the said horizontal pivot. '33. In a self propelled road grading machine, the combination of a main frame, a pair of traction wheels at opposite sides of the frame, a scrap-er suspended from the frame and extending diagonally thereof, a surface breaker beneath the frame in advance of the scraper and comprising a suit-' tween the surface breaker head and the main frame adjacent the scraper, a motor on the frame, an operators seat-on the frame in rear of the motor, gearing, controllablefrom the operators seat, connecting the motor and traction wheels, andmeans controllable from the operators seat for rocking the sur face breaker about the horizontal axis of the connection of the draw bar to the main frame.

4. In a self propelled road grading machine, the combination of a main frame, a pair of traction wheels at opposite sides of the frame, a scraper suspended from the frame and extending diagonally thereof, a surface breaker beneath the frame in advance of the scraper and comprising a suitable head and a series of forwardly inclined cutters secured thereto, a bifurcated draw bar having its closed end connected with the main frame to rock about a horizontal axis, and having the opposite ends of its arms attached to the surface breaker head, a trans verse rod connecting the arms of said draw bar, a guide depending from the main frame and contacting with said transverse rod and the inner faces of the spaced members of the draw bar, yielding connections between the surface breaker head and the main frame adjacent the scraper, a motor on the frame, an operators seat on the frame in rear of the motor, gearing, controllable from the operators seat, connecting the motor and traction wheels, and means controllable from the operators seat for rocking the surface breaker about the horizontal aizis of the connection of the draw. bar to the main frame.

5. In a road grading machine, the combination of a main frame, a pair of ground wheels arranged at opposite sides of the frame, a scaper suspended from the frame and extending diagonally thereof, a surfacebreaker suspended from the frame in advance of the scraper and free to vibrate vertically, and means on the frame cooperating with the surface breaker to resist movement thereof in a direction lateral of the line of advance of the machine.

6. In a road grading machine, the combination of a main frame, a pair of ground wheels arranged at opposite sides of the frame, a scraper suspended from the frame and extending diagonally thereof, hangers depending from the main frame in advance of the scraper, a bifurcated draw bar having its forward closed end extendin between and pivotally connected to said angers, a surface breaker comprising a head secured to the rear ends of the bifurcated draw bar and a series of cutter bars extending transversely across said head, means for adjusting the surface breaker about the pivot at the forward end of the draw bar, and a stirup-like guide depending from the frame and extending between the arms of said draw bar.

7. In a road grading machine, the combination of a main frame, 'a pair of groundwheels at opposite sides of said frame, a scraper suspended from the frame and extending diagonally thereof, a bifurcated draw bar connected at its forward end, in advance of the scraper, to the main frame to rock about a horizontal axis, the rear ends of said bar being curved downward and forward, a surface breaker comprising an angle iron head having. one exterior face in contact with the rear edges of the rear ends ofthe arms of the draw bar, connections between each of said arms and both members of the angle iron head, a series of cutters secured to the forward face of the said head and extending above and below the same, and means for rocking the draw bar and cutter carrying head about the said horizontal axis.

8. In a road grading machine, the combination of a main frame, a pair of ground wheels at opposite sides of said frame, a

' scraper suspended from the frame and exthe draw bar, means connecting the draw bar'with both the forward and rear walls of the surface breaker head, a series of cutters secured to the forward inclined wall of said head and extending beyond both edges thereof,and means preventing lateral movement of said draw bar and surface breaker.

9. In a road grading machine, the combination of a wheel supported main frame, a scraper suspended from said frame, a surface breaker arranged in front of the scraper.

and comprising an angle iron head, having its apex directed upward, and a plurality of cutters secured against the forward inclined face of the head and extending be low the lower edge thereof, and means for suspending the surface breaker from the main frame.

10. In a road grading machine, the combination of a wheel supported main frame, a scraper suspended from said frame, a bifurcated draw bar in front of the scraper pivotally supported at its forward end by the main frame and having its rear ends curved forward and downward, a surface breaker havin'g a forwardly inclined face that conforms to the inclinatlon of and bears close against the rear faces of the end members of the draw bar, means connecting said head to the draw bar, a plurality of teeth secured to the head and extending below the same, and means for rocking the draw; bar about its pivotal connection with the frame.

11. In a road grading machine, the combmation of a wheel supported main frame, a scraper suspended from said frame, a surface breaker comprising a head provided with a plurality of teeth that extend in a forwardly inclined direction below said head, a bifurcated draw bar connected to the head and extending forward therefrom, the forward end of the draw bar being connected to the main frame. by a horizontal pivot, means for rocking the draw bar and breaker head about said pivot, and means depending from the main frame between the bifurcations of the draw bar to prevent lateral movement of the breaker head in either direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES J, SCRANI'IVON, JR. 

